NEW POLICE CHIEF, OLD CONTROVERSY, IN ESCONDIDO

After almost a year without a permanent police chief, Escondido has elevated Capt. Craig Carter to lead the department for the county’s fourth-largest city.

We congratulate him and wish him well in protecting residents, some of whom disagree with the department’s traffic checkpoints and partnership with federal agents. Carter, known to be likable and personable, said the policies will remain, and he will try to close the gap with opponents.

With Carter taking over, this would be an opportune time for City Hall to finally explain why Chief Jim Maher was placed on leave last September and then retired a few months later. An email sent to City Council members in June said derogatory texts between Carter and another captain about an employee and Maher played a role. Carter said the incident has been “dealt with and put behind us.“

We believe it still is important to know what happened as we look forward to a new era in Escondido law enforcement.